Rapper Booba has withdrawn his defamation lawsuit against former influencer Magali Berdah, which stemmed from her comments about harassment she faced in May 2022. This decision will be officially recorded by the Paris correctional court. Berdah has accused Booba of cyberharassment, claiming his influence led to threats against her. Her legal team criticized the timing of the withdrawal, alleging it was an effort to silence her. Booba, living in the U.S., denies any wrongdoing, asserting he aimed to expose fraud in the influencer space.
Booba Withdraws Defamation Lawsuit Against Magali Berdah
The renowned rapper Booba has made the decision to withdraw his defamation lawsuit against the former influencer Magali Berdah. This lawsuit centered around remarks and an interview from late May 2022, during which Berdah spoke out about the harassment she faced, as reported by a source close to the proceedings.
This formal withdrawal is set to be documented on Friday by the 17th chamber of the Paris correctional court, which was preparing to hear the case. Booba, known as the ‘Duke of Boulogne’, initiated a campaign in 2022 aimed at supporting victims of influencer misconduct, labeling certain influencers as ‘influvoleurs’ and exposing various scams targeting internet users.
Cyberharassment Accusations and Ongoing Controversy
In response, Berdah has voiced her concerns about the cyberharassment she endures, for which Booba has been indicted. The contentious statements made by Booba trace back to late May 2022, marking the beginning of this ongoing saga.
In an interview with Le Parisien on May 24, 2022, Berdah expressed her frustrations, stating, “He is untouchable, he lives in Miami, and has enormous striking power, with five million followers on Twitter.” She claimed that his influence has led to relentless harassment from numerous internet users, including death threats.
Additionally, Berdah’s accusations included messages from May 25 and 27, where she criticized Booba for allegedly putting her and her family in danger, escalating the environment of hostility. “I have been suffering from pack harassment for several days! 24/7! Enough! Leave me alone!” she exclaimed.
In light of this withdrawal, Berdah’s legal team expressed their discontent, condemning the timing of the decision, which came just days before the scheduled hearing. They highlighted that the hearing date had been established over a year prior, with three hours reserved for the case’s examination. They accused Booba’s actions as a ‘gag procedure’ intended to silence Berdah, expressing hope that he would face severe consequences for his behavior.
Booba, now residing in the United States, has faced allegations of cyberharassment against Berdah, with indications that he sent at least 487 targeted messages on social media between May 2022 and May 2023. He has denied any claims of death threats or intent to harm Berdah, asserting that his objective is to expose her and her associates as fraudsters, a battle he believes has contributed to legislative changes regarding influencer accountability.
Furthermore, in a related development, 28 individuals were convicted in March in Paris for their involvement in the cyberharassment campaign against Berdah. In a separate matter, Booba had filed a complaint against Berdah for deceptive commercial practices, but that investigation was closed without action in March by the Paris prosecutor’s office.